Thesis (M.A.)--California State University, Chico. / Includes abstract. "Located in the Chico Digital Repository." Includes bibliographical references (p. 214-226).

Eggshell of the African Ostrich, Struthio camelus, frequently occurs in African archaeological sites, some of which are beyond the limit of radiocarbon dating. In order to date those sites beyond the range of ¹⁴C dating using amino acid geochemistry, an understanding of the reaction kinetics governing amino acid chemistry must be achieved. The integrity of the eggshell matrix provides an excellent medium to investigate the kinetics of protein hydrolysis, amino acid decomposition, and isoleucine epimerization. Mathematical equations are derived from high temperature simulations of time and well-dated sites at ambient temperatures to determine rate constants for the reactions to a D/L ratio of 1.0. The reactions studied are Free and Total isoleucine epimerization, "classical" and "extended" hydrolysis, and the change in concentrations of free, bound, and total amino acids. Arrhenius plots aided in deriving the equations for each method which are then applied to predict kinetic parameters. Temperatures can be predicted within a 2°C range and time within 15% of its actual value if the appropriate method is used.

Archaeogeophysics, the use of eophysical mapping techniques to recover archaeological information, is being used with increasing success in North America. Archaeologists can often use geophysics as a tool for collecting data suitable for direct archaeological interpretation (Kvamme 2003). In some cases, geophysics can be used to map entire archaeological landscapes providing an image of the site that is not easily achievable through the use of traditional archaeological excavations. This dissertation uses archaeogeophysical data from three prehistoric sites to gain insights into their layout and community organization as well as explore the possibilities and potentials of using broad scale geophysical surveys in North American archaeological research. / text

No description available.

In this thesis, historic Hopi ethnographic data are employed to model ancestral Hopi agricultural land use through the lens of archaeological landscape theory. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of landmarks--loci of discrete interactions between humans and the land--within networked cultural landscapes, archaeological landscape theory provides a unique perspective from which to examine overlapping planes of historic and prehistoric land use.Drawing on ethnographic accounts, a model is constructed that integrates the physical, social organizational, ritual/ceremonial, and traditional history dimensions of historic Hopi agricultural land use. Durable material correlates of agricultural land use are proposed on the basis of ethnographic documentation. This holistic model is applied to archaeological data from the Homol'ovi Ruins State Park (HRSP), northeastern Arizona. The integrative model produced herein allows for the interpretation of relationships between archaeological features representing different land use behaviors and the conceptualization of linkages between landmarks in the ancestral Hopi agricultural landscape.

During the last decade, archaeologists have widely accepted the use of geophysical exploration techniques, including magnetic, resistivity and electromagnetic methods, for pre-excavation site assessment. Although researchers were quick to recognize the potential of seismic techniques to provide cross-sectional images of the subsurface, early feasibility studies concluded that seismic methods were inappropriate due to restricted resolving power and the relatively small-scale nature of archaeological features. Unfortunately, this self-fulfilling prophesy endures and has largely discouraged subsequent attempts to exploit seismic methods for archaeological reconnaissance. Meanwhile, however, seismic technology has been revolutionized in connection with engineering, groundwater and environmental applications. Attention to detail in developing both instrumentation and data acquisition techniques has yielded a many-fold improvement in seismic resolving power. In light of these advances, this dissertation re-examines the potential of reflection seismology for archaeological remote sensing. It is not the objective of this dissertation to deliver an unequivocal pronouncement on the ultimate utility of reflection seismology for the investigation of archaeological sites. Rather, the goal has been to establish a sound theoretical foundation for objective evaluation of the method's potential and future development. In particular, a thorough theoretical analysis of seismic detection and resolution yields practical performance and identifies frequency response characteristics associated with optimum resolution. Findings have guided subsequent adaptation, development and integration of seismic instrumentation, resulting in a prototype system for high-resolution seismic imaging of the shallow subsurface. Finally, to assess system performance and the suitability of optimum offset data acquisition techniques, a full-scale subsurface model has been constructed, allowing direct comparison between experimental soundings and known subsurface structure. Results demonstrate the potential of reflection seismology to resolve near-surface features on the scale of archaeological interest. Moreover, despite conventional wisdom that the groundpenetrating radar method possesses vastly superior resolving power, acquisition of coincident radar soundings demonstrates that the two techniques provide comparable resolution.

No description available.

There is no abstract available for this thesis.

Problems with the identification and interpretation of rockshelter and cave sites were recognized in the archaeological literature from Indiana. Often, when these sites are identified in archaeological research and survey reports, realistic views of the potential cultural significance they may actually have is lacking. Based on data obtained from recent rockshelter surveys in southern Indiana, a method for evaluating the archaeological potential of rockshelter sites is presented. This methodology systematically accounts for geomorphological and geological factors as well as environmental considerations. Geographic information system (GIS) software is used to assist in the analysis and visualization of the variables associated with these rockshelters. While stressing the importance of these sites as potentially providing conditions for the preservation of cultural material, this method can also be used as a model for further studies on this topic. / Department of Anthropology

Miestų archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimo koncepcija remiasi archeologinio paveldo saugojimu in situ, panaudojant konservavimo priemones ir, jei reikia, taikant rekonstrukcijos metodus bei pateikiant visuomenei tam tikrą objekto interpetaciją. Reprezentavimo proceso sudėtingumą lemia jame sąveikaujančios dalyvių grupės (politinio ir administracinio, ekonominio sektoriaus atstovai, įvairūs specialistai ir rangovai, miesto bendruomenė, kiti tarpininkai), kurios įtakoja galutinį rezultatą ir nusprendžia pagrindines paveldo vertes. Lietuvoje archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimo pavyzdžių galima pamatyti šešiuose miestuose (Vilniuje, Kaune, Klaipėdoje, Kėdainiuose, Biržuose ir Trakuose). Iš viso yra reprezentuojami 33 objektai, kurie sudaro 1,8 % visų tirtų objektų. Lietuvos miestų archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimo pagrindą sudaro archeologinių liekanų konservavimas in situ be funkcionalios pirminės paskirties tęstinumo. Tai populiariausias archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimo būdas, kuris plačiai taikomas ir Europoje. Lietuvoje proceso raidą galima suskirstyti į 4 pagrindinius laikotarpius: Lietuvos miestų archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimo ištakas nuo XIX a. vid. iki 1950 m. Lietuvos miestų archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimo pirmuosius bandymus 1951 – 1971 m. Lietuvos miestų archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimą 1972 – 1990 m. Šiuolaikinį Lietuvos miestų archeologinio paveldo reprezentavimą, kuris prasidėjo nuo 1990 m. ir tęsiasi iki šiol. / The concept of archeological heritage representation in the city is based on protecting archeological heritage in situ, by using conservation measures and, if needed, applying reconstruction methods. In that case the society receives a certain degree interpretation of a archelogical object. Complexity of representation process comes from numerous groups of people participating in it (political, administrative, economic sectors representatives, various specialists and contractors, the community of the city, other middlemen). Those groups influence the final outcome of the process and establish the main values of heritage. Examples of archelogical heritage representation in Lithuania can be seen in six cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Kėdainiai, Biržai and Trakai). There are total 33 objects being represented, which is only 1,8% of all researched objects. The basis off Lithuanian city archeological heritage representation is the conservation of archeological relics in situ without continuing the functionality of original purpose. This is the most popular method of archeological representation which is widely used in all of Europe. Development of representation process in Lithuania can be divided into four main periods: The origins of Lithuanian city archeological heritage representation from XIX century to 1950. The first attempts to represent archelogical heritage in 1951 – 1971. The representation of city archeological heritage in 1972 – 1990 . The modern representation of... [to full text]